Christen O'Brien

Entrepreneur / Growth Marketing / Operator in San Francisco, California

Christen O'Brien

Entrepreneur / Growth Marketing / Operator in San Francisco, California

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Based in San Francisco, I lead tech integrations & strategic partnerships @ Silicon Valley Bank, where I focus more on the 'Silicon Valley' than the 'bank' part. I previously co-founded 500 Startups, a venture seed fund & accelerator with $150 million+ under management and 1,000+ portfolio startups globally. There, I built the business development team and focused on brand, partnerships, revenue generation, and global expansion.

I got my start in tech in 2006 when I joined IBD Network, which was a business development 'membership club' for tech startups and VCs. In those days, the money was entirely on Sand Hill Road, being a founder wasn't hip, and the industry was bouncing back post-crash. Though I wasn't aware of it at the time, that job gave me direct access & a front-row seat to the people and trends that would shape today's landscape. I worked closely with & learned from founders who would later start companies like Uber, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google Docs/Spreadsheet, Box, AdMob, Twilio, Yammer, and so many others.

Basically, I got really, really lucky.

Today, I use what I've learned over the last decade to help companies refine their business models, accelerate customer acquisition, build a global brand, and expand. Call it the intersection of Marketing and Sales. I just simply follow interesting people and opportunities, and great things happen.

  • Work
    • 500 Startups
  • Education
    • University of Southern California